Method and apparatus for removing accumulated paint from paint racks

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for removing accumulated paint from paint racks used to support articles to be spray painted. Frame members of the paint rack are enclosed in a substantially skin-tight relation by one or more flexible inflatable boots. To remove accumulated paint from the exterior of the paint rack, the boots are internally pressurized causing the expansion of the boots and thereby the cracking and peeling of the accumulated paint.

United States Patent Hetznecker 1 Oct. 2, 1973 [54] METHOD AND APPARATUSFOR 1,840,834 1/1932 Davis 134/17 UX REMOVING ACCUMULATED PAINT FROM2,274,066 2/1942 Jacocks 134/17 UX PAINT RACKS FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATlONS 5 Inventor; Frank w Hetznecker, Wabash 615,602 1/1927France 249/65 [73] Assignee: Honeywell Inc., Minneapolis, Minn. PrimaryExaminer M0rris Wonk 22 pu Sept 8, 1971 Assistant Examiner-D. G.Millmaln Attorney-Lamont B. Koontz [21] Appl. No; 178,721

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl 134/16, 118/500, 134/38, A method andapparatus for removing accumulated 211/123 paint from paint racks usedto support articles to be [51 1 Int. Cl B08b 7/02 spray painted. Framemembers of the paint rack are en- [58] Field of Search 134/16, 17, 38;closed in a substantially skin-tight relation by one or 211/l05.1, 123;118/500, 501, 502, 503; more flexible inflatable boots. To removeaccumulated 92/89, 90; 249/65; 244/134 A paint from the exterior of thepaint rack, the boots are internally pressurized causing the expansionof the [56] References Cited boots and thereby the cracking and peelingof the accu- UNITED STATES PATENTS mulated P l,998,809 4/1935 Geer244/134 A 11 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED 2 975 SHEET 10F 2INVENTOR. FRANK w. HETZNECKER M (S /W A T TORNE Y.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING ACCUMULATED PAINT FROM PAINT RACKSBACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to amethod and an apparatus for removing accumulated paint from paint racksused to support articles to be spray painted.

Where large numbers of articles are to be uniformly painted,electro-static spray painting is often utilized. Electro-static spraypainting involves the use of special paint racks to support the articlesto be painted. Such paint racks may comprise simple tubular framemembers from which an article is suspended, or such paint racks may beconsiderably more complex. In either situation as articles are suspendedfrom otherwise supported by such paint racks and are thereafterelectrostatically spray painted, the paint racks invariably accumulate aconsiderable amount of paint themselves. This paint accumulation causesmechanical interferences when articles are put on and removed from thepaint racks, and may also cause interference with the conduction ofelectricity from a source to the article to be painted.

For these and other reasons, it is desirable to periodically remove allof the paint which has accumulated on the paint racks. Previously suchpaint accumulations have been removed by chemical means, burning,abrasive blasting, chipping, scraping, or some other such method. Allare characterized as being time consuming and often ineffective. Thesubject invention provides an inexpensive and fast method of removingsuch accumulated paint from paint rack members. The invention simplycomprises enclosing the paint rack member in a substantially air-tight,inflatable boot. This boot fits the frame member in a substantiallyskin-tight relation. When paint has accumulated on the exterior of thisflexible boot, the internal portion of the boot is pressurized causingthe boot to expand. This expansion causes the immediate cracking andpeeling of the paint accumulated on the exterior of the boot. Whateverportion of the paint does not fall off by itself upon the internalpressurization of the boot may be very easily manually brushed, blown,or scraped away.

Although the principle of removing ice accumulations from aircraft byutilizing an expandable lead is old, the application of this principleto the problem of removing paint from paint racks constitutes a strikingadvance over the prior art methods of removing such accumulations. Themany advantages of the subject invention over the prior art will becomeapparent upon a reading of the detailed description of the invention inview of the drawing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a simplified illustration of apaint rack from which an article to be spray painted may be suspended.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a frame member enclosed by an inflatableboot.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of an alternative embodiment of a frame memberenclosed by an inflatable boot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 shows a simplified paintrack comprised of tubular frame members or conduits I0, 11, and 12.Attached between the legs of the frame members and 12 are two optionalbraces 13 and 14 to provide stability to the frame members. Dependingfrom the frame member 12 is a hook or the like 15 from which an articleto be painted may be suspended. Attached to member 10 by means of hooksI6 is a lateral member 17 which also may be used to support an articleto be painted. A second hook orthe like 19 is shown for this purpose.

Each of the members 10, ll, 12, and 17 are comprised of an internalframe member such as metallic conduit, and an exterior flexible,inflatable boot made from some material such as rubber. Each of themembers l0, ll, 12, and 17 have inlets 18 to which a source of airpressure may be connected in order to internally pressurize the boots.

FIG. 2 shows the member 17 shown in FIG. 1. The member is comprised of ametal conduit 21 and a flexible rubber boot 22 which encloses asubstantial portion of the conduit 21 in a substantially skin-tight orat least close-fitting relation. The boot is preferably pre-formed andthen stretched to allow the conduit to be inserted. Attached to conduit21 near its end is the pressure inlet 18 which is in communication withthe interior of the conduit 21. At either end or other suitablelocations of the conduit 21 are plugs 24 which allow the interiorportion of the conduit 21 between the plugs 24 to be pressurized.

Each end of the boot 25 is fixed or adhered to the conduit 21 by meansof an adhesive in order that the central portion of the boot 22 may besubstantially airtight. Other means such as a mechanical clamp may beused for this purpose. Beneath the central portion of the boot 22 areports 26 which comprise holes in the conduit 21. When pressure isapplied at the inlet 23, it is communicated through the interior of theconduit 21, through the ports 26, and thus beneath the central portionof the boot 22 enclosing the conduit 21. Thereupon the boot is caused tostretch and expand, thereby causing any dried and brittle paintaccumulated on the exterior of the boot 22 to crack and loosen or peeloff. Any portion of the accumulated paint which does not fall off orpeel off may be easily removed by blowing or brushing it off or someother suitable means.

Preferrably both ends of the boot 22 are sealed at 25 in order that theboot may be inflated like a balloon. However, the subject method ofremoving'paint is also successful when the air is continuously allowedto escape. All that is necessary is that the boot be caused to expand. Awide range of materials may likewise be used for the boot although suchmaterials should obviously be flexible and would be resistant to thetemperature range encountered and to any corrosive effects of the paintwhich it will accumulate. It. is also desirable that the boot materialshould have a tendency to form only a weak adhesive bond to the paintaccumulations. If the boot is to be used on a frame member used inconnection with electro-static spray painting, the boot material ispreferrably electrically conductive. This eliminates the need forspecial connections to the article to be painted in order to completethe electro-static circuit.

FIG. 3 is an alternative embodiment of the frame member illustrated inFIG. 2. The frame member 30 of FIG. 3 comprises a tubular conduit 31made of steel or the like and a rubber boot or the like 32 whichcompletely encloses the conduit 31 in a substantially skintightrelation. A valve means or inlet 33 is affixed to the exterior portionof the boot 32 and allows the internal portion of the boot 32 betweenthe boot and the conduit 31 to be pressurized. When the boot 32 ispressurized the boot expands and may move radially away from the conduitapproximately a quarter of an inch or less which is all that is requiredto stretch the exterior of the boot to such an extent that the paintaccumulated thereon is caused to crack and loosen or pee].

in some instances, where there is a substantial accumulation of paint orwhere the paint is peculiarly resistive to cracking, it is desirable toprovide a thin or weak spot in the accumulated paint from which cracksmay propagate. Such a weak spot may be provided by incorporating a flap,bump, or protrusion 34 on the surface of the boot. This protrusion orpropagation point means may also take the form of a series ofprotrusions along the length of the boot. Such a series serves the dualfunction of assisting in the initiation of cracks and in the holding ofarticles to be painted in place.

While specific embodiments and examples have been utilized in describingthe subject invention, it is intended that the invention be limited onlyby the scope of the appended claims.

1 claim:

1. A method of removing accumulated dried paint from a support memberused to support an article to be painted, the support member beingsubstantially enclosed in a skin-tight relation by a flexible boot-likemember, the method comprising the step of pressurizing the interior ofthe boot-like member thereby causing the boot-like member to expand andthereby crack the accumulated paint.

2. A support member for an comprising:

an open frame structure means formed essentially from rod-shapedmembers, at least one of said rodshaped members adapted to permitsuspension therefrom of the article to be painted;

flexible boot-like means substantially enclosing at least a portion ofsaid frame structure means in close-fitting relation;

inlet means associated with the boot-like means adapted to allow theinternal pressurization of the article to be painted boot-like means,the pressurization causing the expansion of the boot-like means andthereby the cracking and peeling of the paint accumulated on theexterior of the boot-like means during the painting of the article.

3. The invention according to claim 2 wherein the boot-like member issubstantially air-tight.

4. The invention according to claim 2 further comprising propagationpoint means associated with the boot-like means.

5. The invention according to claim 2 wherein said flexible, suitable,boot-like means comprises an inflatable boot.

6. A support member for an article to be electrostatically spray paintedcomprising:

an open frame structure means formed essentially from conduit means, atleast one of said conduit means adapted to permit suspension therefromof the article to be painted;

an inflatable boot means substantially enclosing at least a portion ofsaid conduit means in a substantially skin-tight relation;

inlet means associated with the boot means adapted to allow the internalpressurization of the boot means, the pressurization causing theexpansion of the boot means and thereby cracking and peeling of paintaccumulated on the exterior of the boot means during the painting of thearticle.

7. The invention according to claim 6 wherein the boot means issubstantially air-tight.

8. The invention according to claim 6 wherein the boot means comprisesan electrically conductive material.

9. The invention according to claim 6 further comprising propagationpoint means associated with the boot means.

10. The invention according to claim 6 wherein the boot means materialis such that only a weak adhesive bond is formed with the paintaccumulation.

11. The invention according to claim 6 wherein said inflatable bootmeans comprises an inflatable boot.

2. A support member for an article to be painted comprising: an openframe structure means formed essentially from rod-shaped members, atleast one of said rod-shaped members adapted to permit suspensiontherefrom of the article to be painted; flexible boot-like meanssubstantially enclosing at least a portion of said frame structure meansin close-fitting relation; inlet means associated with the boot-likemeans adapted to allow the internal pressurization of the boot-likemeans, the pressurization causing the expansion of the boot-like meansand thereby the cracking and peeling of the paint accumulated on theexterior of the boot-like means during the painting of the article. 3.The invention according to claim 2 wherein the boot-like member issubstantially air-tight.
 4. The invention according to claim 2 furthercomprising propagation point means associated with the boot-like means.5. The invention according to claim 2 wherein said flexible, suitable,boot-like means comprises an inflatable boot.
 6. A support member for anarticle to be electrostatically spray painted comprising: an open framestructure means formed essentially from conduit means, at least one ofsaid conduit means adapted to permit suspension therefrom of the articleto be painted; an inflatable boot means substantially enclosing at leasta portion of said conduit means in a substantially skin-tight relation;inlet means associated with the boot means adapted to allow the internalpressurization of the boot means, the pressurization causing theexpansion of the boot means and thereby cracking and peeling of paintaccumulated on the exterior of the boot means during the painting of thearticle.
 7. The invention according to claim 6 wherein the boot means issubstantially air-tight.
 8. The invention according to claim 6 whereinthe boot means comprises an electrically conductive material.
 9. Theinvention according to claim 6 further comprising propagation pointmeans associated with the boot means.
 10. The invention according toclaim 6 wherein the boot means material is such that only a weakadhesive bond is formed with the paint accumulation.
 11. The inventionaccording to claim 6 wherein said inflatable boot means comprises aninflatable boot.